However, Microsoft has left open a small backdoor that you can exploit to get the Windows 10 upgrade after the deadline. While the offer is closed for the general public, Microsoft invites customers who use assistive technologies on Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 to upgrade for free anytime.

So how do you benefit? Well, Microsoft isn’t actually checking if you use assistive technologies or not.

But there’s still one little trick to get you a Windows 10 upgrade for free: Microsoft Assistive technology.

How to Get a Free Windows 10 Upgrade After July 29

Assistive technologies are part of the Ease of Access menu in your Settings. This consists of built-in features like a narrator to read out on-screen text and buttons, a magnifier to zoom in on the screen, closed captions to turn audio into text, and so on.

There are also specialized third-party assistive products, like voice recognition software to transcribe your speech. Any software or hardware that provides accessibility to users with special needs comes under this category.

Microsoft hasn’t declared when it will end this upgrade offer for assistive technology users, but has said that there will be a public announcement before it ends. So for now, you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade if you missed out during the deadline, albeit not ethically.

Is It Just an Oversight?

Possibly, yes. As one Redditor astutely pointed out, the Upgrade Now button is linking to an Update Assistant Tool version that doesn’t check for any assistive technology, instead of another version that seems to check for it.

So when you’re downloading the Update Assistant Tool from the site, check if it’s a file titled “Windows10Upgrade9252.exe” or if it’s “Windows10Upgrade24074.exe”. If it’s ending in 24074, then you have nothing to worry about.

Do You Think This Is Deliberate?

Several people think that this continued upgrade offer is a ploy by Microsoft. The company has publicly stopped the official upgrade, but left this backdoor wide open, without any checks whatsoever. By making it seem like an oversight, people who were still holding out for another scheme may end up upgrading now before this backdoor is shut.

Do you think Microsoft intentionally left the accessibility-based upgrade open to anyone? Or was it just an oversight that will be corrected soon?

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Ashley Kyle

August 15, 2019 at 6:14 pm

I just used this to upgrade my Windows 7 machine to Windows 10. I had my doubts at first, but I'm pleased to say that it worked! I did have to access the site through archive.org, but I was still able to get everything upgraded. Thank you so much!

Anyone know if you can use the media creation tool now that the deadline has passed, I keep getting stuck at 99%. I don't see any option to install by any other method than the Upgrade assistant. 23 hours and counting....

I think this is a way of basically slowing down server hits from the mass public while still allowing IT guys access when they need it. Its a good way to be able to pick and choose who gets the software without it seeming like a dick move...

My daughter bought a laptop from Newegg with Win 8.1. We tried to "upgrade" to Win 10. No joy. The installer kept on telling us that there was no mor room on an almost empty 1 TB drive. We followed all the instructions but all we got was the Not Enough Space error. So the 'upgrade' got the hook. Besides, Win 8.1 will be supported till 2020. By that time my daughter will have given that laptop to me and I would have installed Linux with no problems. She will have her boss provide her with another laptop with O/S pre-installed.

I downloaded the exe because I use the magnifier to be able to read most stuff, and all it seems to be doing is restarting the Upgrade Assistant every 10-15 seconds and not doing anything and keeps bringing itself into foreground and disrupting me every time and basically isn't working? "We're checking for the latest version of the Upgrade Assistant"? And I can't seem to end the process hmm.

There has been many comments stating that by turning your system clock back to the 28th July you can still upgrade for free.
I havnt personally tried that method as all my machines are on Win 10 but thats the word...